Paint Mines Interpretive Park is a geological wonder in the plains east of Colorado Springs — an unexpected otherworldly landscape of colorful spires, hoodoos, and clay formations eroded by wind and water into a labyrinth of pale yellows, lavenders, pinks, and reds. Set within a prairie landscape with no dramatic mountain backdrop, the formations feel all the more surprising and alien.

The 4-mile trail system winds through the badlands, with the most dramatic formations concentrated in the southeast corner of the park. The colored clay layers represent different mineral deposits — iron oxides for the reds and oranges, manganese for the purples — laid down over millions of years and exposed by erosion.

The area was used for thousands of years by Plains tribes who mined the colored clays for pottery and pigments, and archaeological excavations have uncovered projectile points and other artifacts dating back nearly 9,000 years.

TIP: Visit in the hour before sunset when the slanting light intensifies the colors and creates dramatic shadows in the gullies.

TIP: The formations are fragile — stay on the trail and don't climb on the spires, which are easily damaged.

TIP: The park is free and rarely crowded; it's one of Colorado's most underrated natural sites.

Official website

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Pike's Peak is one of Colorado's most iconic Fourteeners — at 14,115 feet, it towers above Colorado Springs and is visible for over 100 miles across the plains. What makes it unique is its accessibility: you can reach the summit by cog railway, paved toll road, or a 13-mile trail, making it one of the most visited mountain summits on Earth.

The summit views are staggering — on a clear day the plains of Kansas stretch to the horizon in one direction, and dozens of other 14,000-foot peaks line the horizon in the other. The completely rebuilt summit house, reopened in 2021, has a proper cafe and excellent exhibits on the peak's history and geology.

The mountain has inspired icons of American culture: Katherine Lee Bates wrote "America the Beautiful" after seeing the view from the summit in 1893, and the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been held on the slopes since 1916.

TIP: Book the Pikes Peak Cog Railway tickets in advance — they sell out weeks ahead in summer.

TIP: If driving the toll road, check weather and road conditions first; the summit can be 40°F colder than the base and afternoon thunderstorms are frequent.

TIP: The famous Pikes Peak donuts at the summit house are a tradition worth indulging.

Pike's Peak

Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the world's highest cog railway, climbing from Manitou Springs at 6,571 feet to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak via a 9-mile rack-and-pinion track through some of the most dramatic alpine terrain in Colorado. First built in 1891, the railway was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2021 with new Swiss-engineered trains that offer panoramic windows and a smooth, whisper-quiet ride.

The journey takes about 80 minutes each way and passes through alpine meadows, forests, granite boulders, and barren tundra before arriving at the modern summit house with its cafe and views stretching hundreds of miles across the plains and mountains. It's a remarkably relaxed way to access a genuine 14,000-foot summit.

The cog railway is particularly special for those who want the summit experience without the physical demands of hiking or driving anxiety on the steep toll road.

TIP: Reserve tickets well in advance, especially for summer weekends — the railway books out days ahead.

TIP: Take a morning departure for the clearest views; the summit is frequently socked in by early afternoon thunderstorms in summer.

TIP: Dress warmly — summit temperatures average 34°F even in July, regardless of conditions below.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway

One of the most dramatic spans in the world, the Royal Gorge Bridge hangs 956 feet above the Arkansas River — the highest suspension bridge in the United States for most of the 20th century. The gorge itself was carved over millions of years into sheer granite walls, and the views from the bridge deck or the rim trail are genuinely vertiginous. Beyond the bridge, the park includes a via ferrata route, a gondola across the gorge, zip lines, and a narrow-gauge scenic railway that runs along the river below.

It sits just outside Cañon City, about 45 minutes west of Colorado Springs on US-50 — a natural stop when driving between the Springs and the San Luis Valley.

TIP: The via ferrata is one of the most accessible in Colorado — no prior climbing experience needed, and the exposure over the gorge is unforgettable.

TIP: The Royal Gorge Route Railroad departs from Cañon City and runs through the bottom of the gorge — a completely different perspective and one of the most scenic train rides in the state.

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Skyline Drive is a short but spectacular 3-mile paved road perched on a narrow sandstone hogback ridge above Cañon City, with sheer drop-offs on both sides and sweeping views of the Arkansas River valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It's one of the most dramatic ridge drives in Colorado and requires no hiking or special vehicle — just a willingness to drive along a ledge barely wider than your car.

Built by convict labor from the Fremont County Correctional Facility between 1905 and 1909, the road is one-way and features three "tunnels" — really carved notches through the ridge — and a series of pull-offs where you can step out and look straight down both sides of the ridge to the valley 800 feet below.

The views of the Royal Gorge bridge and the surrounding canyon country are exceptional, and the geological formation itself — a vertical hogback of Dakota sandstone tilted 90 degrees from its original horizontal position — is a vivid illustration of the tectonic forces that built Colorado.

TIP: The road is one-way (northbound, entering from US-50 at Cañon City) and closes in ice or snow.

TIP: Pair it with a visit to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, just 10 minutes west — together they make for one of the best half-days in this part of Colorado.

Skyline Drive

The Garden of the Gods is a stunning public park in Colorado Springs where enormous red sandstone formations rise from a flat plain with Pikes Peak as a dramatic backdrop. Designated a National Natural Landmark, the 300-million-year-old rock fins and spires create a landscape so otherworldly that early explorers debated whether to name it a garden fit for the gods — and the name stuck.

The park offers 21 miles of hiking and biking trails at multiple difficulty levels, and the main paved road loops through the most dramatic formations, making it accessible by car as well. Rock climbing is permitted on designated walls, and technical climbers come from across the world to scale routes on Gateway Rocks and Cathedral Spires.

Sunrise and sunset light the formations in vivid shades of crimson and gold, and the juxtaposition of the red rocks against a snow-capped Pikes Peak — most visible from November through April — is one of the most photographed scenes in Colorado.

TIP: The park is free to enter and open year-round — the Visitor & Nature Center has excellent geology exhibits and is a good first stop.

TIP: For the best photos, shoot from the central garden area in the early morning with Pikes Peak directly behind the formations.

Jeep Tours

Park Map

The Garden of the Gods

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I’d consider Cliff House at Pikes Peak if you want a stay with some history. Private parking is handy on a road trip.

From unique urban sights to enormous canyons and sand dunes with snowy peaks as their backdrop – Colorado is here to impress. And if you time your trip for the fall foliage like we did, it will blow your minds too!

Cliff House at Pikes Peak is a grand Victorian inn in Manitou Springs, built in 1873 and one of the oldest and most elegantly restored historic hotels in Colorado. Positioned at the foot of Pikes Peak in the charming spa town of Manitou Springs, it combines genuine historic character with modern luxury amenities.

The hotel features 55 uniquely decorated rooms and suites — many with fireplaces and soaking tubs — a fine dining restaurant with an excellent wine cellar, and a cozy bar. The wraparound porch and Victorian common rooms are beautifully preserved. There's no pool, but the setting compensates.

Manitou Springs itself is a quirky, walkable destination with natural mineral springs, independent shops, and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway depot just a short walk away — making Cliff House an ideal base for exploring without a car.

The hotel suits travelers who appreciate historic character over modern minimalism — couples especially, and anyone who wants a more intimate alternative to the larger Colorado Springs hotels. It's one of the rare places where the building itself is worth experiencing.

Cliff House at Pikes Peak

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The gateway to natural wonders like the Garden of the Gods with its iconic red rock formations, and Pikes Peak, which inspired the song “America the Beautiful.” A visit here is a journey through the heart of Colorado's scenic beauty.

Cliff House at Pikes Peak

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